THE PRESIDENCY: Shock & Surprise

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The President had been working on his budget message and his address on the State of the Union until 1:30 the night before, but as he sat at his desk after luncheon he gave no hint of fatigue. The telephone rang, and when he lifted the instrument he could hear the soft Arkansas drawl of Senate Democratic Leader Robinson.

"I have a great shock and surprise for you," said Senator Robinson with mock gravity. "Restrain yourself. Congress is organized and ready to receive any communication you desire to make."

President Roosevelt boomed out a big laugh, hoisted himself out of his chair. Thus omitted was the formal top-hatted delegation which a more conventional Administration would have expected Congress to have sent down Pennsylvania Avenue to say the same thing that Leader Robinson had made a joke of. His children, grandchildren, wife and friends following in four cars behind, the President rode hatless to the Capitol. His secretaries clucked their tongues at the wreaths of mist which hung about their bareheaded chief as he swung up a ramp to the House wing. On the arm of his son James he passed into the well of the House and after a round of applause and a volley of cheers, began to deliver his message to the first and only regular session of the 73rd Congress.

¶ That night the President did what no President had done within the memory of the oldest White House attache. He called some 35 Washington correspondents to his study. Like a football coach going through skull practice with the squad, he read the budget message he was to send to Congress next day. Then he answered the questions of his digit-dazed friends. The reward of the President's patience was a uniform and intelligent presentation to the public through the Press of his two-year $17,000,000,000 budgets.

¶ Day after his budget message, President Roosevelt was host at luncheon to silvery-whiskered Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, Democratic whip. How soon, asked the President, could Congressional business be attended to? By May 15? Illinois' Lewis thought not before July.

"I must say," Senator Lewis told newshawks after lunch, ''that it appears to me that the President feels that the nation suspects or fears Congress when it begins to do unnecessary talking."

¶ Unnecessary Congressional spending was also President Roosevelt's concern. So he called in members of the House Appropriations Committee and subcommittees, who promised they would get right to work passing the necessary bills to provide the required budget billions. Still a little shocked at the budget's size, they heartily agreed that further expenditure would be undesirable.